Living with frizz can be one of the most frustrating things on the planet, especially when you have curly hair. You put in so much effort to make your hair look perfect before you walk out of the house. Only 2 minutes later you catch your reflection in a shop’s window, and all you can see is a bird’s nest where your hair used to be. It’s not an uncommon place to be and a whole lot of us, including me, have been there.
Many of us brush it off, blaming it on natural texture, but that shouldn’t be the case. Frizz is a result of a lacking hair care regimen, and that’s why a little extra attention is all it takes to tackle the problem head on. This doesn’t mean that you have to spend money on expensive products and salon treatments, all you need is a little insight on what is causing your hair to frizz up, and a few ingredients from your kitchen to deal with the problem.
In short – dryness and damage. Your hair is constantly thirsty and when its hydration requirements are not met, the cuticles (the outermost part of your hair shaft which is made up of dead cells that keep your hair healthy and protected) rise to let moisture in. The excess moisture from the atmosphere causes your hair to swell up and, you’ve got it right, frizz. Constant dehydration leads to damage, leaving your hair frizzy and lifeless.
How to Treat Frizzy Hair?
Frizz is a cry for nourishment and moisture. There are many things you can do to tame it, starting off with ensuring that you are eating right and drinking enough water. Once you have those two things down, you need to treat your hair to some good old-fashioned TLC with regular oiling and hair masks. Below I a list of natural remedies you can use to treat your frizz.
- Almond Oil and Egg
1/4 cup almond oil
1 raw egg
Combine the almond oil and egg until you get a smooth mixture. Optionally you can just whisk the egg and apply it to your hair.
Section your hair and start applying the mixture to your scalp and through the length of your hair.
Wait for 40 minutes and then rinse your hair as usual.
Use a good shampoo and conditioner, preferably one without sulphates. Apply this once a week.
Almond oil acts as an emollient. The egg repairs damage in the hair shaft with its high protein content. This is considered to be one of the best remedies for frizz.
- Avocado Mask
1 ripe avocado
1 cup yogurt
Cut the avocado and remove the pit.
Mash the avocado and the yogurt to get a smooth, creamy paste.
Apply it to your hair and let it sit for 40-45 minutes.
Wash thoroughly with shampoo and follow it up with your conditioner.
Apply this mask once or twice every week.
Using an avocado-based hair mask is an inexpensive but effective remedy to control frizz. It contains vitamins B and E which nourish the hair and repair damage. Yogurt cleans and deep conditions your hair.
- Coconut Oil and Vitamin E
1-part vitamin E oil
4 parts organic cold-pressed coconut oil
Mix both the oils and pour it into an air-tight container to be stored.
Take 2-3 tablespoons of the oil depending on the length of your hair.
Apply it all on your scalp and through the length of your hair.
Wash your hair after about 40 minutes.
Apply this oil once or twice a week.
Vitamin E helps fight free radicals and prevents hair damage. Coconut oil has penetrative properties that deep condition your hair.
- Mayonnaise
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup pure almond oil
1-2 eggs (depending on the length of your hair)
Mix the mayonnaise, almond oil, and eggs to form a smooth paste.
Generously coat your hair and scalp with the mixture and then cover it with a hot towel or a shower cap.
Shampoo thoroughly and follow up with conditioner.
You can use this hair mask up to two times a week.
The mask works amazingly well to provide shine, nourishment, and strength. It adds an extra layer of moisture, which helps in controlling frizzy hair effectively. In fact, this is one of the best hair masks for dry and frizzy hair.
- Banana
1 ripe banana
2 teaspoons honey
1/3 cup coconut oil/almond oil
Mash the banana until there are no lumps and to it add the honey and oil to form a smooth paste.
Apply the mixture all over your scalp and hair, and leave it on for 20-25 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner.
Use this mask once a week for hair that is extremely frizzy
Benefits
Bananas are great for hair conditioning, especially when it is combined with honey which is a well-known humectant. A banana mask for hair is just the kind of attention your hair deserves.
- Beer
1 pint of beer
Decarbonate your beer by pouring it into a bowl. Let it sit overnight until it goes flat.
Wash your hair with shampoo and then pour the beer through your hair while massaging your scalp.
Rinse the beer out with cold water.
Repeat this once in two weeks.
Beer restores moisture and nourishes your hair. It is also used as a cleansing rinse that removes build-up. This helps keep your cuticles healthy.
- Lemon and Honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup water
Combine all the ingredients and pour it through freshly washed hair.
Massage your scalp for a couple of minutes and then let the mixture sit for an additional 10 minutes.
Rinse with lukewarm water and shampoo.
Use this hair mask once every two weeks. Ensure that you use other conditioning hair masks during the rest of the week.
The mask removes dirt and grime from the hair shaft which improves cuticle health, reducing frizz. The rich vitamin C content also helps boost hair growth. The bleaching agents can give you some natural and subtle highlights.
- Honey
2 tablespoons honey
2 cups warm water
Dilute the honey with water and pour it through your hair.
Once your hair is saturated with the mixture, let it sit for 30 minutes.
Shampoo and condition.
While honey is an excellent conditioner, it also lightens your hair. If you do not want your hair to be lightened it would be wise not to use this mask more than once a week. If you want subtle highlights, use the mask twice a week.
This is a simple solution that isn’t too time-consuming. Like I mentioned before, honey is an excellent humectant which means that it does a great job at sealing moisture in your hair. It makes your hair stronger, smoother, and shinier.
- Honey and Yogurt
2-3 tablespoons yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
What You Have To Do
Mix the honey and yogurt in a bowl.
Apply the mixture on your scalp and hair. Leave it on for 30 minutes.
Wash with cold water.
Do this once a week to restore moisture and maintain your hair.
Yogurt is an effective deep conditioner and honey helps in retaining moisture (8). It also acts as an emollient and makes hair smoother and shinier.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 cups water
Mix the Apple cider vinegar in cool water and set it aside in a jug.
Wash your hair with shampoo and then rinse your hair with the diluted ACV.
Let it sit in your hair for a few minutes and then finish with conditioner.
Repeat this treatment once every week.
Apple cider vinegar helps in balancing the pH level of your hair and closes any open cuticles, making your hair more adept at holding moisture. It also removes the build-up of dirt and grease, adding shine to your hair.
- Aloe Vera
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
1/4 cup carrier oil
Combine the Aloe gel with a carrier oil of your choice.
Apply the mixture to your scalp and through the length of your hair.
Leave it in for 20-30 minutes and then wash off with shampoo and condition.
You can use this mask up to twice a week.
Aloe vera is one of the best ingredients for moisturizing (8). In combination with a carrier oil, it forms a protective layer over your cuticle that minimizes moisture loss, giving you hair that is soft, smooth, and shiny.
- Coconut Milk
2-3 tablespoons coconut milk (depending on the length of your hair)
A bowl for heating
Heat the coconut milk until it is warm.
Apply it to your hair and let it sit for 30 minutes
Shampoo and condition.
You can use coconut milk for your hair up to twice a week.
Coconut oil is a perfect light protein treatment to repair damaged hair. It moisturizes while nourishing your hair, making it smooth, strong and shiny.
- Hot Oil Massage
Hot oil massages are one of the best ways to treat frizzy hair. Oils nourish and moisturize your hair, keeping it healthy and frizz-free. There are many different oils, each carrying their unique properties. You can choose what oils to use depending on what suits your hair best. Below is a list of oils and how they help control frizz.
- Argan Oil for Frizzy Hair
Argan oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids that help treat and repair damage (9). It also helps prevent splitting and makes your hair smooth and more manageable.
- Coconut Oil for Frizzy Hair
Coconut oil is one of the most penetrative hair oils (5). It contains chains of fatty acids that nourish your hair from the inside, making it stronger and healthier.
- Almond Oil for Frizzy Hair
Almond oil is rich in vitamin E which contains antioxidant properties. Antioxidants combat the free radicals which cause damage to your hair, keeping it healthy. It is also an emollient which helps keep moisture locked in your hair shaft.
- Jojoba Oil for Frizzy Hair
Jojoba oil is perfect for those who have combination hair which is oily at the roots and dry at the tips. The oil mimics the natural oils produced by your scalp, reducing the amount of oil produced, while moisturizing and providing nourishment to the tips of your hair.
- Olive Oil for Frizzy Hair
Olive oil is a natural conditioner that leaves your hair feeling silky and smooth (9). It is light and so does not weigh your hair down while keeping it moisturized. It also tackles issues like dandruff and improves scalp health.
There are many different oils and blends you can use for your hair. You can also make your own blend of oils from the list above or other oils of your choice. Give yourself a relaxing hot oil massage by following steps below.
2-3 tablespoons of a carrier oil/ oil blend
Method
Pour the oil into a bowl and heat it by placing it in a larger bowl filled with hot water.
Massage the warm oil into your scalp and through your hair. Massage your scalp for a good 10-15 minutes.
Dip a towel in hot water and wrap your hair with it. This will create a warm environment that will allow for maximum penetration.
Leave the oil on your hair for 30 minutes
Shampoo and condition.
Give yourself a hot oil massage twice a week for best results.
Warm oil penetrates through the hair shafts and follicles, conditioning and nourishing them. It also forms a protective layer around your cuticles which locks moisture in. It restores lustre to your hair and smoothers the cuticles, preventing frizz.
- Vitamins for Frizzy Hair
Internal care is just as important as external when it comes to hair health. Consuming the right amounts of protein, vitamins, and minerals are vital for healthy hair growth. Vitamins A, B-complex, C, and E are essential. Making sure that your hair grows out healthy is the only way to ensure its long-term health.
Frizzy Hair Hacks
- A Good Haircut
A good haircut is the best way to control frizzy hair. Get your curls trimmed every two months to get rid of split ends. Maintain a hairstyle that isn’t too short because it’s easier for humidity to get through shorter hair. Cutting off the damaged hair will make your hair look healthier and lustrous. You can also ask your hair stylist to thin your hair out, in case it is too thick.
- Shampoo And Conditioner
Look for labels that say “moisturizing,” or “hydrating.” Use a gentle shampoo that is free of sulfates. Use a hydrating conditioner and apply it from the mid-lengths to the tips of your hair. Leave it in your hair for a few minutes before you rinse it out.
- Anti-Frizz Products
Using a leave-in conditioner or hair serum can make a huge difference in how much your hair frizzes up as you go about your day. There are several frizz control products available in the market, specially designed for curly hair.
What To Avoid?
Never wash your hair with hot water. Heat causes the cuticles to rise, making it frizz up. Always use water that is either cool or lukewarm.
Go easy with the heat styling tools. Heat causes damage, and if your hair is already frizzy, it is best avoided.
Cotton pillow cases are a big no-no. They soak up the moisture from your hair while you sleep. Counter this by investing in some satin pillow covers.
Do not shampoo more than thrice a week.
Do not towel dry your hair. The friction from it causes the cuticles to rise and makes your hair rough and prone to breakage.
There you have it—the guide to keep your hair tame as you go about your day. With the right care, you won’t have any more shop-window horror stories.
